-- the female always overcomes the male by her stillness. Stillness may be considered (a sort of) abasement.There probably are numerous ways to interpret these lines, but I'm guessing sexuality provided the impetus. In the traditional act of male-to-female copulation -- what has been called the "missionary position" -- the woman takes the position below the male and, in a manner of speaking, invites him in for goodies.
~ James Legge translation, from The Sacred Books of the East, 1891 ~
The female overcomes the male with stillness,
Lying low in stillness.
~ Gia-fu Feng and Jane English translation, published by Vintage Books, 1989 ~
The female always overcomes the male with serenity
Using serenity as the lower position
~ Derek Lin translation, from Tao Te Ching: Annotated & Explained, published by SkyLight Paths, 2006 ~
Victory comes
from lying perfectly still
and waiting for power
to come your way.
~ Ron Hogan rendition, from Beatrice.com, 2004 ~
If it turns out I have gotten this all wrong, check out the comments section as the Baroness will set me straight -- ooh, now there's a loaded pun!
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Sexual dyanmics of yin and yang play a lot of metaphorical roles in Taoist thought (and in some practices). Yin is receptive and yang is generative. Although I am extremely fond of this verse, I don't always see it with sexual innuendo, although it is certainly there. I think it has to do with patience, knowing one's relative strengths and weaknesses and being able to use them to achieve win-win solutions. I've never liked Legge's use of "abasement"; maybe more like humility. It's about knowing when to yield and when to advance. I need to look at the characters. This whole verse can be understood as about deal-making, in interpersonal relationships, and international relations and alliances. There is an esoteric significance, but I'll save that.
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